Organisation profile

Sustainability has many facets. Inter- and transdisciplinary research and teaching characterize the School of Sustainability. Scientists in our research projects work together in the laboratory, on the heath, in the grassland, in the classroom, with the city administration, with farmers, with non-governmental organizations, with companies, with students in the lecture hall and of course at their desks.

Furthermore, we work with regional and national political actors, e.g. ministries, as well as international organizations, e.g. UNEP, UNESCO, EU. We are part of national and international bodies, e.g. sustainability advisory boards of companies, member of the German Sustainability Award, World Biodiversity Council (IPBES), in order to contribute to social change with scientific findings.

Main research areas

Vision
Sustainability science investigates on a theoretical, conceptual and empirical level how to promote sustainable development and how to find and implement effective solutions for current social and ecological challenges. The aim is to create a more sustainable future.

Sustainability researchers are called upon to take responsibility for their research, which is anchored in existing scientific knowledge and methods and serves to make the world a better place for everyone.

Mission
We promote change towards a sustainable future by developing theories, concepts and practices of inclusive education for sustainability, research, governance and management.

We acknowledge the diversity and dynamics of values, norms and behaviour and contribute with transdisciplinary methods to ensuring that tensions and differences between different disciplines, methods, topics and standards are fruitfully taken up and used with productive compromises and further developments towards sustainable development.

Principles
The School of Sustainability is guided by the normative concepts of ecological system integrity and social and economic justice.

Ecological system integrity refers to the safeguarding of life-support systems, as well as the maintenance of the well-being of life on Earth.

With social and economic justice we strive for a world in which all people can fulfil their potential without endangering system integrity and the well-being of others.

Information about the School
The School of Sustainability includes...
... ca. 25 professors
... ca. 100 research assistants
... ca. 1000 students in Bachelor and Master courses

In various inter- and transdisciplinary projects we are constantly researching and working together on changes and solutions for current challenges.

  1. 2017
  2. Published

    Learning through evaluation: A tentative evaluative scheme for sustainability transition experiments

    Lüderitz, C., Schäpke, N., Wiek, A., Lang, D. J., Bergmann, M., Bos, J. J., Burch, S., Davies, A., Evans, J., König, A., Farrelly, M. A., Forrest, N., Frantzeskaki, N., Gibson, R. B., Kay, B., Loorbach, D., McCormick, K., Parodi, O., Rauschmayer, F., Schneidewind, U., Stauffacher, M., Stelzer, F., Trencher, G., Venjakob, J., Vergragt, P. J., von Wehrden, H. & Westley, F. R., 15.12.2017, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 169, p. 61-76 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Urban BaWü-Labs: Challenges and Solutions when Expanding the Real-World Lab Infrastructure

    Schäpke, N., Stelzer, F., Marg, O., Bergmann, M., Miller, E., Wagner, F. & Lang, D. J., 15.12.2017, In: GAIA. 26, 4, p. 366-368 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  4. Published

    ‘It's the Psychology, Stupid!’: Understanding Human Cognition Biases to Inform Sustainable Behavior

    Engler, J.-O., Abson, D. & Wehrden, H., 14.12.2017, Rochester: SSRN Social Science Research Network, 23 p. (SSRN; no. 3086532).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  5. Published

    The self-sabotage of conservation: Reply to Manfredo et al.

    Ives, C. D. & Fischer, J., 06.12.2017, In: Conservation Biology. 31, 6, p. 1483 - 1485 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  6. Published

    Bryophytes and organic layers control uptake of airborne nitrogen in low-N environments

    Bähring, A., Fichtner, A., Friedrich, U., Von Oheimb, G. & Härdtle, W., 04.12.2017, In: Frontiers in Plant Science. 8, 12 p., 2080.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published
  8. Published

    Antimicrobial activity of pharmaceutical cocktails in sewage treatment plant effluent: An experimental and predictive approach to mixture risk assessment

    Menz, J., Baginska, E., Arrhenius, Å., Haiß, A., Backhaus, T. & Kümmerer, K., 01.12.2017, In: Environmental Pollution. 231, 2, p. 1507-1517 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Autotrophic and heterotrophic microalgae and cyanobacteria cultivation for food and feed: life cycle assessment

    Smetana, S., Sandmann, M., Rohn, S., Pleißner, D. & Heinz, V., 01.12.2017, In: Bioresource Technology. 245, Part A, p. 162-170 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Belowground top-down and aboveground bottom-up effects structure multitrophic community relationships in a biodiverse forest

    Schuldt, A., Bruelheide, H., Buscot, F., Assmann, T., Erfmeier, A., Klein, A.-M., Ma, K., Scholten, T., Staab, M., Wirth, C., Zhang, J. & Wubet, T., 01.12.2017, In: Scientific Reports. 7, 1, 9 p., 4222.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Drought effects on root and needle terpenoid content of a coastal and an interior Douglas fir provenance

    Kleiber, A., Duan, Q., Jansen, K., Junker, L. V., Kammerer, B., Rennenberg, H., Ensminger, I., Gessler, A. & Kreuzwieser, J., 01.12.2017, In: Tree Physiology. 37, 12, p. 1648-1658 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a guided internet- and mobile-based depression intervention for individuals with chronic back pain: protocol of a multi-centre randomised controlled trial

    Lin, J., Sander, L., Paganini, S., Schlicker, S., Ebert, D., Berking, M., Bengel, J., Nobis, S., Lehr, D., Mittag, O., Riper, H. & Baumeister, H., 01.12.2017, In: BMJ Open. 7, 12, 11 p., e015226 .

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  13. Published

    Environmental justice and care: critical emancipatory contributions to sustainability discourse

    Gottschlich, D. & Bellina, L., 01.12.2017, In: Agriculture and Human Values. 34, 4, p. 941-953 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  14. Published

    Interconnected place-based social–ecological research can inform global sustainability

    Balvanera, P., Calderón-Contreras, R., Castro, A. J., Felipe-Lucia, M. R., Geijzendorffer, I. R., Jacobs, S., Martín-López, B., Arbieu, U., Speranza, C. I., Locatelli, B., Harguindeguy, N. P., Mercado, I. R., Spierenburg, M. J., Vallet, A., Lynes, L. & Gillson, L., 01.12.2017, In: Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 29, p. 1-7 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  15. Published

    Introduction to the symposium on feminist perspectives on human–nature relations

    Gottschlich, D., Mölders, T. & Padmanbhan, M., 01.12.2017, In: Agriculture and Human Values. 34, 4, p. 933-940 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    Mapping a sustainable future: Community learning in dialogue at the science–society interface

    Barth, M., Lang, D. J., Luthardt, P. & Vilsmaier, U., 01.12.2017, In: International Review of Education. 63, 6, p. 811 - 828 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Nature-gender relations within a Social-Ecological Perspective on European Multifunctional Agriculture: The Case of Agrobiodiversity

    Burandt, A. & Mölders, T., 01.12.2017, In: Agriculture and Human Values. 34, 4, p. 955–967 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    Photodegradation of micropollutants using V-UV/UV-C processes: Triclosan as a model compound

    Alfiya, Y., Friedler, E., Westphal, J., Olsson, O. & Dubowski, Y., 01.12.2017, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 601-602, p. 397-404 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    Sustainable business model research and practice: Emerging field or passing fancy?

    Lüdeke-Freund, F. & Dembek, K., 01.12.2017, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 168, p. 1668-1678 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    Thinking beyond Western commercial honeybee hives: towards improved conservation of honey bee diversity

    Matias, D. M. S., Borgemeister, C. & von Wehrden, H., 01.12.2017, In: Biodiversity and Conservation. 26, 14, p. 3499 - 3504 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  21. Published

    Transnational collaboration for sustainability in higher education: Lessons from a systematic review

    Caniglia, G., Lüderitz, C., Groß, M., Muhr, M., John, B., Withycombe Keeler, L., von Wehrden, H., Laubichler, M., Wiek, A. & Lang, D., 01.12.2017, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 168, p. 764-779 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  22. Published

    Year-round cattle and horse grazing supports the restoration of abandoned, dry sandy grassland and heathland communities by supressing Calamagrostis epigejos and enhancing species richness

    Henning, K., Lorenz, A., von Oheimb, G., Härdtle, W. & Tischew, S., 01.12.2017, In: Journal for Nature Conservation. 40, p. 120-130 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  23. Published

    Business Model Experimentation for Circularity: Driving sustainability in a large international clothing retailer

    Bocken, N. M. P., Miller, K., Weissbrod, I., Holgado, M. & Evans, S., 12.2017, In: Economics and Policy of Energy and the Environment. 2017, 1, p. 85-122 38 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  24. Published

    Green chemistry and the leisure industry: New business models for sustainability

    Pleissner, D., 12.2017, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 8, p. 1-4 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  25. Published

    Nachhaltige Chemie - das künftige Leitbild

    Kümmerer, K., 12.2017, In: Angewandte Chemie. 129, 52, p. 16640-16641 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  26. Published

    Sustainability conflicts in Coastal India: Hazards, changing climate and development discourse in Indian Sundarbans

    Ghosh, A., 12.2017, 1 ed. Germany: Springer Verlag. 245 p. (Advances in Asian Human-Environmental Research)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  27. Published

    Toward a methodical framework for comprehensively assessing forest multifunctionality

    Trogisch, S., Schuldt, A., Bauhus, J., Blum, J. A., Both, S., Buscot, F., Castro-Izaguierre, N., Chesters, D., Durka, W., Eichenberg, D., Erfmeier, A., Fischer, M., Geißler, C., Germany, M., Goebes, P., Gutknecht, J., Hahn, C. Z., Haider, S., Härdtle, W., He, J.-S., Hector, A., Hönig, L., Huang, Y., Klein, A.-M., Kühn, P., Kunz, M., Leppert, K. N., Li, Y., Liu, X., Niklaus, P. A., Pei, Z., Pietsch, K., Prinz, R., Proß, T., Scherer-Lorenzen, M., Schmidt, K., Scholten, T., Seitz, S., Song, Z., Staab, M., von Oheimb, G., Weißbecker, C., Welk, E., Wirth, C., Wubet, T., Yang, B., Yang, X., Zhu, C.-D., Schmid, B., Ma, K. & Bruelheide, H., 12.2017, In: Ecology and Evolution. 7, 24, p. 10652-10674 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  28. Published

    Upsides and downsides of the sharing economy: Collaborative consumption business models’ stakeholder value impacts and their relationship to context

    Dreyer, B., Lüdeke-Freund, F., Hamann, R. & Faccer, K., 12.2017, In: Technological Forecasting and Social Change. 125, p. 87-104 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  29. Published

    Online-scheduling using past and real-time data: An assessment by discrete event simulation using exponential smoothing

    Heger, J., Grundstein, S. & Freitag, M., 19.11.2017, In: CIRP - Journal of Manufacturing Science and Technology. 19, p. 158-163 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  30. Published

    Democratising platform governance in the sharing economy: An analytical framework and initial empirical insights

    Martin, C. J., Upham, P. & Klapper, R., 10.11.2017, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 166, p. 1395-1406 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  31. Published

    Scale in environmental governance: moving from concepts and cases to consolidation

    Newig, J. & Moss, T., 06.11.2017, In: Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning. 19, 5, p. 473-479 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  32. Published

    Bridging divides in sustainability science

    Lang, D. J., Wiek, A. & von Wehrden, H., 01.11.2017, In: Sustainability Science. 12, 6, p. 875 - 879 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  33. Published

    Disaggregating ecosystem services and disservices in the cultural landscapes of southwestern Ethiopia: a study of rural perceptions

    Dorresteijn, I., Schultner, J., Collier, N. F., Hylander, K., Senbeta, F. & Fischer, J., 01.11.2017, In: Landscape Ecology. 32, 11, p. 2151-2165 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  34. Published

    Early-Career Researchers’ Perceptions of the Prevalence of Questionable Research Practices, Potential Causes, and Open Science

    Stürmer, S., Oeberst, A., Trötschel, R. & Decker, O., 01.11.2017, In: Social Psychology. 48, 6, p. 365-371 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  35. Published

    Mapping Complexity in Environmental Governance: A comparative analysis of 37 priority issues in German water management

    Kirschke, S., Borchardt, D. & Newig, J., 01.11.2017, In: Environmental Policy and Governance. 27, 6, p. 534 - 559 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  36. Published

    Middle Pleistocene interglacial peat deposits from Northern Germany investigated by 230Th/U and palynology: Case studies from Wedel and Schöningen

    Sierralta, M., Urban, B., Linke, G. & Frechen, M., 01.11.2017, In: Zeitschrift der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften. 168 , 3, p. 373 - 387 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  37. Published
  38. Published

    Accuracy and bias of methods used for root length measurements in functional root research

    Delory, B., Weidlich, E. W. A., Meder, L., Lütje, A., Duijnen, R. V., Weidlich, R. & Temperton, V. M., 11.2017, In: Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 8, 11, p. 1594-1606 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  39. Published

    Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning relations in European forests depend on environmental context.

    Ratcliffe, S., Wirth, C., Jucker, T., van der Plas, F., Scherer-Lorenzen, M., Verheyen, K., Allan, E., Benavides, R., Bruelheide, H., Ohse, B., Paquette, A., Ampoorter, E., Bastias, C. C., Bauhus, J., Bonal, D., Bouriaud, O., Bussotti, F., Carnol, M., Castagneyrol, B., Checko, E., Dawud, S. M., de Wandeler, H., Domisch, T., Finér, L., Fischer, M., Fotelli, M., Gessler, A., Granier, A., Grossiord, C., Guyot, V., Haase, J., Hättenschwiler, S., Jactel, H., Jaroszewicz, B., Joly, F.-X., Kambach, S., Kolb, S., Koricheva, J., Liebergesell, M., Milligan, H., Müller, S., Muys, B., Nguyen, D., Nock, C., Pollastrini, M., Purschke, O., Radoglou, K., Rauland-Rasmussen, K., Roger, F., Ruiz-Benito, P., Seidl, R., Selvi, F., Seiferling, I., Stenlid, J., Valladares, F., Vesterdal, L. & Baeten, L., 11.2017, In: Ecology Letters. 20, 11, p. 1414-1426 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  40. Published

    Der gestaltende Staat im Kontext gesellschaftlichen Wandels: Herausforderungen und Gestaltungsansätze für Nachhaltigkeitsstrategien und -politiken

    Heinrichs, H., 11.2017, Dessau: Umweltbundesamt, 58 p. (Texte; no. 107/2017)(Für Mensch & Umwelt).

    Research output: Working paperResearch communication reportsResearch

  41. Published

    Editorial: Psychische gesundheit von chronisch kranken und/oder behinderten kindern und jugendlichen und Ihren familien

    Hampel, P. & Salisch, M., 11.2017, In: Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie. 66, 9, p. 652–655 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  42. Published

    From trade-offs to synergies in food security and biodiversity conservation

    Hanspach, J., Abson, D. J., Collier, N., Dorresteijn, I., Schultner, J. & Fischer, J., 11.2017, In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 15, 9, p. 489 - 494 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  43. Published

    Participation for Effective Environmental Governance: Evidence from European Water Framework Directive Implementation

    Kochskämper, E. (Editor), Challies, E. (Editor), Jager, N. W. (Editor) & Newig, J. (Editor), 16.10.2017, London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. 180 p. (Earthscan Studies in Water Resource Management)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  44. Published

    Schreibwerkstatt MINT: Wissenschaftliches Schreiben in den Fachbereichen 1 bis 5 fördern und unterstützen

    Rodenhauser, A., 16.10.2017, Bremen : Universität Bremen.

    Research output: other publicationsArticles in scientific forums or blogsEducation

  45. Published

    Social entrepreneurship orientation: development of a measurement scale

    Kraus, S., Niemand, T., Halberstadt, J., Shaw, E. & Syrjä, P., 16.10.2017, In: International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research. 23, 6, p. 977-997 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  46. Published

    The reciprocal iso-inhibition volume concept: A procedure for the evaluation in effect-directed analysis with thin-layer chromatography - using the thin-layer chromatography-luminescent bacteria assay as an example

    Schulz, W., Weiss, S. C., Weber, W. H. & Winzenbacher, R., 13.10.2017, In: Journal of Chromatography A. 1519, p. 121-130 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  47. Published

    Rural electrification efforts based on off-grid photovoltaic systems in the Andean Region: Comparative assessment of their sustainability

    Feron, S., Cordero, R. R. & Labbe, F., 11.10.2017, In: Sustainability. 9, 10, 24 p., 1825.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  48. Published

    Mapping giant honey bee nests in Palawan, Philippines through a transdisciplinary approach

    Matias, D. M. S., Stellmacher, T., Borgemeister, C., Cayron, J. G. & von Wehrden, H., 03.10.2017, In: Development in Practice: stimulating thought for action. 27, 7, p. 903-912 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  49. Published

    Evolution of game-play in the Australian Football League from 2001 to 2015

    Woods, C. T., Robertson, S. & Collier, N., 02.10.2017, In: Journal of Sports Sciences. 35, 19, p. 1879-1887 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  50. Published

    Grazing, exploring and networking for sustainability-oriented innovations in learning-action networks: an SME perspective

    Klewitz, J., 02.10.2017, In: Innovation - The European Journal of Social Science Research. 30, 4, p. 476 - 503 28 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  51. Published

    In Search of the Dominant Rationale in Sustainability Management: Legitimacy- or Profit-Seeking?

    Schaltegger, S. & Hörisch, J., 01.10.2017, In: Journal of Business Ethics. 145, 2, p. 259-276 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review